Calcutta HC upholds ban on cattle slaughter, says 'Cow sacrifice not part of Eid'

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday refused to interfere with the West Bengal government?s recent notification restricting the slaughter of bulls, bullocks, cows, calves and buffaloes ahead of next week?s Eid al-Adha, observing that the May 13 notification merely implemented directions earlier issued by the Court itself in 2018.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen held that the notification had been issued in compliance with previous orders passed by the High Court.

"This is also not in dispute that the order passed by the coordinate Bench in WP 328 of 2018 has attained finality. In this view of this matter, we find no basis to stay or set aside the



public notice dated 13.05.2026. Thus, these petitions are dismissed so far notice dated 13.05.2026 is concerned," the Bench said.

The Court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the guidelines issued by the West Bengal government under the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act ahead of Bakrid next week.

In its public notice issued on May 13, the state government said that bulls, bullocks, cows, calves and buffaloes cannot be slaughtered without a certificate declaring them unfit.

According to a Bar and Bench report, the court further stated that only animals certified unfit could be slaughtered, and that too only at authorised slaughterhouses approved by the authorities.